Toy



M. O. FIXEN June 10, 1930.

TOY

Filed Sept. 28. 1928 l v v Patented June 10, 19730 STATES MARTIN O. FIXEN, OF IVIINNEAPGLIS, MINNESOTA TOY Application filed September 28, 1928.

This invention relates to a toy or amusement device, and particularly to such a device operated by a cord er string.

It is an object of this invention to provide,

a device mounted on a string and having a very simple and eiiicient construction by means of which it can be made to move up and down on a string.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide a toy device mounted on a string, comprising a casing formed of a pair of sheet metal members having inwardly disposed central portions forming drums of different diameters, on which said string may be wound.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a device comprising a casing formed of a pair of members which will rotatably move on the string and on which is mounted a nonrotatable member enclosing said casing and moved thereby.

These and other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to 'the same parts throughout the different views, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of th device, certain parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Figs. 23 and Ll are respectively plan views of the inner sides of the two parts of the casing used;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of two of the parts used;

Fig. G is a View in side elevation of a screw used for holding the parts together; and

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the screw shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, the device is shown comprising` a easing 10 formed of two parts, 10a and 10b. While these parts might be of various shapes and variously formed, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they are shown as formed of sheet metal and as of circular, cup-shaped Serial No. 309,074.

form, having central inwardly projecting, substantially frusto-conical portions 10C and 10d respectively. Members 10n and 10b are thus in the form of annular troughs or cups. It will be seen that the inner ends of portions 1Gc and 1()d are closed and these ends are provided with elongated slots 10, through which passes a screw 11, having its threaded shank shaped in cross section similarly to the slots 10e. As shown, the outer edges of parts 10n and 10" are provided with outwardly rolled beads and it will be noted that these edges are slightly separated, leaving an annular crack or space between said sections. A separating membei' or disc 12 is disposed between the ends of portions 10c and 10d, said disc also having an elongated central slot 12a through which screw 11 passes and lits. A nut 13 preferably having a knurled head screws on the screw 11 and holds the parts in assembled relation, as shown in Fig. 2. The end of portion 10c is provided with a plurality of radially disposed raised ribs 10f, terminating a short distance from the opening 10e. rlhese ribs are pressed out of the metal and thus form grooves at the inner side of said end. A ring 14- is provided of somewhat greater diameter than disc 12, the same having holes lea and 14h formed therethrough at substantially opposite sides thereof, which holes are preferably circular in shape. T he disc 12 is provided with an aperture 12" which also is preferably circular in shape and is disposed at a short distance from the center thereof. A cord 15 is provided which passes in between the sections 10n and 10", 'through aperture 14, then passes several times around the drum formed by the portion 10C, then through the opening 12 in disc 12, whence it is wound several times about the drum formed by portion 10d, then passing through opening 14h in ring 14 and out again between the sections 10l and 10b.

The device may be used with just the parts so far described. In such use the operator holds the ends of cord 15 at opposite sides of the device in his hands and inclines the string to the vertical, the end passing through the opening 141b being at the lower "on portion 10d.

end of the string. The casing` formed by parts 10a and 10b will then move down the string by gravity, the string unwinding from the drum formed by Vportion 10d and winding` up on the drum formed by portion 10". Vhen the string is all unwound from the drum portion 10I the casing will stop. The operator then pulls on the string` or on the lower end thereof and this acts to unwind the string from the drum portion 10C, causing the same to rotate and the casingj)- then moves up the string, the cord again winding@` up on the-drum portion 10d. lt will be noted that the drum portion 10c 'is of considerably larger diameter than the drum portion 10d. and a dilierential pull or torce is thus obtained to move the casing` up the string and wind up the cord on drum 10l. The casing will, of course, move up the string by such a pull it the cord is still wound on both drums, due to the tact that one drum is larger than kthe other. The parts 10a and 10 are held in fixed relation to each other and to the disc 12 by the screw 11 in slots 10e and 12a. The ring 14 is provided to keep the cord 15 in proper position and disposed at substantially opposite sides oil the casing` 10. lf it were not for this ring the device has a tendency to when the cord 15 is slackened and to immediately revolve and twist the parts o'f'cord 15 at opposite sides oit the casing together. This twisting action which is apt to tangle the string, is prevented by the ring` 14. lt Will he seen that the cord 15 does not move out of the casing 10 at exactly opposite sides but at points in line with tangents to the drums formed by portions 10c and 10d. It will also noted that the aperture 12b is disposed slightly outward radially of the drum rThe cord may also move in one of the grooves formed by the ribs 10i, moving to aperture 12b from the drum on portion 10C. l

It is often desirable to have the device appear stationary as it moves on the string. For this purpose the screw 11 is provided with an axial passage llllfthrough which disposed a small rod 16 adapted to rotate in the screw 11. The rod 16 provided with reduced portions 1Ga at its ends adapted to be disposed in small holes 'formed in the sections 17a and 17b of a ball or rising` 17. While this ball or casing,` might talie various forms, in the embodiment otl the invention illustrated it is shown in the form et a sphere sectionl-b having a flange 17C of smaller diameter than the sphere at its edge over which the edge of section 17a tits in the manner of a lid. The parts are provided with registering slots 17 forming openings through which the cord 15 may pass. TWhen the device is operated with the ball 17 thereon, the ball moves up and down the string with the casing 10 without rotation, the screw 11 rotating` on the rod 16.

The head of screw 11 may be provided with ,applicant has provided a very simple and at the same time a very entertaining toy. The device can be easily operated by one person or it desired,Y the string` 15 can be made quite long and the ends thereof held by diii'erent parties. VThe casing` 10 can be made ot diiierent colors so as to give pleasing effects when rotating; land the hall 17 can also be colored to simulate a balloon or other object. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and eiiicient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing' from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally stattively small width, one of said members having a. drum on its interior and the other ot said members having a smaller drum on its interior, a member disposed between said members and drums and closely adjacent the same, means for holding` said members in fixed relation, a cord adapted-to be wound on said drums passing through said last mentioned member and having its ends passingl between said iirst mentioned members at substantially opposite sides thereof, whereby said casing will move down said cord by gravity and may be moved up said cord b v placing tension on the latter.

2. A toy havingl in combination, a casing comprising a pair of cup-shaped members Jformed ot sheet metal, having central inwardly projecting, substantially truste-conical portions forming drums at the interior of said members respectively, the drum on one of said members being of greater diameter than the drum on the other, a disc disposed between. and engaged bythe inner ends of said portions, means for holding said members and discassembled in iXed relation, said cup-shaped members being slightly separated at their edges and a cord adapted to be wound on said drums passing through said disc and having its ends extending outrated only by an annular slot ot comparaward between the edges of said members, substantially at opposite sides thereof.

3. A toy device having in combination, a round casing Substantially oblong in diametric cross section having drums of different diameter formed on the opposite sides of its interior and co-axial with said casing, said casing having a circumferential opening of small width at its largest circumference, a member in said casing disposed between and separating said drums, said member and casing being held in fixed relation, a cord passing through said last mentioned member and adapted to be wound on said drums respectively and having its ends respectively passing through said opening whereby said casing may be moved up and down on said cord.

e. The structure set forth in claim 3, and a member surrounding said member and having apertures at substantially opposite sides thereof through which said cord passes, for guiding and preventing tangling of said cord.

5. A toy device having in combination, a casing comprising a pair of cup-shaped sections assembled in reverse relation and having inwardly projecting portions forming drums on the interiors thereof, said drums being of different diameters, a member disposed between said sections and drums, a bolt passing centrally through said sections and member for holding the same in fixed relation, a cord passing through said last mentioned member and adapted to be wound respectively on said drums and having its ends passing between the edges of said sec.- tions, a rod journaled in said bolt and passing axially therethrough, and a casing comn prising separable sections carried respectively at opposite ends of said rod, having' openings at opposite sides thereof through which the ends of said oord pass.

G. lhe structure set fort-h in claim 2, and a. ring in said casing surrounding said drums and disk and having openings at substantially opposite sides thereof through which said cord passes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

MARTIN O. FIXEN. 

